Container for segregating waste materials

Abstract

A waste container is designed to accommodate sorting of waste in a plurality of basic categories, such as recyclables, compostables, and terminal wastes. The container is constructed from a plurality of individual components which may be assembled for use. The container includes a floor supported large receptacle which supports a hollow shell having a closable lid. One or more smaller receptacles are supported within the shell overlying the larger opening. The shell and smaller receptacles are configured to provide a passageway therebetween to allow direct access to the larger receptacle without disturbing the container's assembled relationship.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having opposed open ends, a first receptacle having an open top removably supporting one said open end of said shell to provide communication between the interiors thereof, and a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a portion spaced from a portion of said shell to form an open passageway extending in communication between the other said open end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle, whereby material to be segregated is disposable into said first receptacle through said passageway while said second receptacle is supported within said shell. 
     
     
       2. The container of claim 1, wherein said shell includes a front wall having an inclined portion extending outwardly from one said open end of said shell to the other said open end thereof, said inclined portion and the portion of said second receptacle forming said passageway. 
     
     
       3. The container of claim 2, wherein the portion of said second receptacle forming said passageway is arranged at an incline parallel to said incline portion of said front wall. 
     
     
       4. The container of claim 2, wherein said inclined portion of said front wall is spaced from the remainder of said front wall by a pair of spaced gussets. 
     
     
       5. The container of claim 1, wherein said open top of said first receptacle is configured to conform to the configuration of one said open end of said shell for removable support thereof. 
     
     
       6. The container of claim 1, further including a third receptacle removably supported within said shell adjacent said second receptacle, said third receptacle having a portion thereof spaced from a portion of said shell to form a portion of said passageway. 
     
     
       7. The container of claim 1, wherein said second receptacle further includes securing means for releasably securing said second receptacle to said shell. 
     
     
       8. The container of claim 7, wherein said securing means comprises at least one downwardly depending flange forming an opening for receiving a portion of said shell. 
     
     
       9. The container of claim 1, further including a lid moveably overlying said another open end of said shell. 
     
     
       10. The container of claim 1, wherein said second receptacle at least partially obstructs said communication between said open ends of said shell. 
     
     
       11. The container of claim 1, wherein said shell includes at least a partially unobstructed interior providing direct communication between its opposed open ends, said unobstructed interior forming a portion of said open passageway. 
     
     
       12. The container of claim 1, wherein said second receptacle includes a bottom wall overlying and at least partially obstructing said open top of said first receptacle. 
     
     
       13. The container of claim 1, wherein said opposed ends of said shell comprise an open top and an open bottom, said open passageway extending through said shell from said open top to said open bottom. 
     
     
       14. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other to provide communication between the interiors thereof, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a wall spaced from a wall of said shell to form a passageway therebetween, said passageway providing communication between said opening in said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, whereby material to be segregated is disposable into said first receptacle through said passageway while said second receptacle is supported within said shell, and a lid moveably overlying said opening in said top end of said shell between an opened and closed position. 
     
     
       15. The container of claim 14, where said wall of said shell includes an inclined portion extending outwardly from said bottom end to said top end of said shell, said inclined portion and said wall of said second receptacle forming said passageway. 
     
     
       16. The container of claim 15, wherein said wall of said second receptacle forming said passageway is arranged at an incline parallel to said wall of said shell forming said passageway. 
     
     
       17. The container of claim 15, wherein said wall of said shell forming said passageway is spaced from the remainder of said shell by a pair of spaced triangular shaped gussets. 
     
     
       18. The container of claim 14, wherein said top end of said first receptacle is configured to conform to the configuration of said bottom end of said shell for removable support thereof. 
     
     
       19. The container of claim 18, wherein the configuration of said top end of said shell is different from the configuration of said bottom end of said shell. 
     
     
       20. The container of claim 14, further including a third receptacle removably supported within said shell adjacent said second receptacle. 
     
     
       21. The container of claim 20, wherein said wall of said shell forming said passageway extends outwardly from said bottom end to said top end of said shell, said walls of said second and third receptacles forming with said wall of said shell said passageway therebetween. 
     
     
       22. The container of claim 14, wherein said second receptacle further includes securing means for releasing securing said second receptacle to said shell. 
     
     
       23. The container of claim 22, wherein said securing means comprises at least one downwardly depending flange forming an opening for receiving a portion of said shell. 
     
     
       24. The container of claim 14, wherein said opening in said top end of said shell is larger than said opening in said bottom end of said shell, the differences between said openings forming a portion of said passageway therebetween. 
     
     
       25. The container of claim 14, wherein said shell has a lower rim surrounding said bottom end thereof and said first receptacle having a top rim surrounding said top end thereof, said lower rim nestable within said top rim for support of said shell by said first receptacle. 
     
     
       26. The container of claim 14, wherein said shell includes a rim surrounding a portion of said top end of said shell, said rim including preventing means for preventing movement of said lid in said opened position beyond a predetermined limit. 
     
     
       27. The container of claim 26, wherein said preventing means comprises a ledge extending outwardly from said rim for engaging a portion of said lid to prevent movement thereof beyond said predetermined limit. 
     
     
       28. The container of claim 26, further including retaining means for releasably retaining said lid in a predetermined opened position. 
     
     
       29. The container of claim 28, wherein said retaining means comprises a projection extending outwardly from said rim, said rim forming a space with said preventing means for receiving a portion of said lid when said lid is arranged in said opened position. 
     
     
       30. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a hollow shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein and front and rear spaced apart walls, said front wall having an inclined portion extending outwardly from said bottom end to said top end, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell adjacent said rear wall thereof, said second receptacle having an inclined front wall spaced from at least said inclined portion of said shell to form an inclined passageway therebetween, said passageway in communication between said opening within said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, and a lid moveable between an opened and closed position overlying said opening in said top end of said shell, said lid when in said opened position providing access to the interior of said first receptacle through said passageway and the interior of said second receptacle through the opening within said top end of said shell. 
     
     
       31. The container of claim 30, wherein said inclined portion of said shell and said inclined front wall of said second receptacle are parallel to each other. 
     
     
       32. The container of claim 30, further including a third receptacle removably supported within said shell adjacent said second receptacle and said rear wall, said second receptacle having an inclined front wall spaced from at least said inclined portion of said shell to form with said inclined front wall of said second receptacle said passageway. 
     
     
       33. The container of claim 32, wherein said inclined portion of said shell is parallel to said front walls of said second receptacle and said third receptacle. 
     
     
       34. The container of claim 30, wherein said top end of said first receptacle is configured to conform to the configuration of said bottom end of said shell for removable support thereof. 
     
     
       35. The container of claim 34, wherein the configuration of said top end of said shell is different from the configuration of said bottom end of said shell. 
     
     
       36. The container of claim 30, wherein said second receptacle includes securing means for releasing securing said second receptacle to a wall of said shell. 
     
     
       37. The container of claim 30, wherein said opening in said top end of said shell is larger than said opening in said bottom end of said shell, the differences between said openings forming a portion of said passageway therebetween. 
     
     
       38. The container of claim 30, wherein said shell has a lower rim surrounding said bottom end thereof and said first receptacle having a top rim surrounding said top end thereof, said lower rim nestable within said top rim for support of said shell by said first receptacle. 
     
     
       39. The container of claim 30, wherein said shell includes a rim surrounding a portion of said top end of said shell, said rim including preventing means for preventing movement of said lid in said opened position beyond a predetermined limit. 
     
     
       40. The container of claim 39, wherein said preventing means comprises a ledge extending outwardly from said rim for engaging a portion of said lid to prevent movement thereof beyond said predetermined limit. 
     
     
       41. The container of claim 39, further including retaining means for releasably retaining said lid in a predetermined opened position. 
     
     
       42. The container of claim 41, wherein said retaining means comprises a projection extending outwardly from said rim, said rim forming a space with said preventing means for receiving a portion of said lid when said lid is arranged in said opened position. 
     
     
       43. The container of claim 30, wherein said second receptacle includes a bottom wall, said bottom wall arranged adjacent and overlying said opening within said top end of said first receptacle. 
     
     
       44. The container of claim 30, wherein said opening in said bottom end of said shell is substantially the same size and shape as said opening in said top end of said first receptacle. 
     
     
       45. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having opposed open ends, a first receptacle having an open top removably supporting one said open end of said shell to provide communication between the interiors thereof, and a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a portion spaced from a portion of said shell to form an open passageway extending in communication between the other said open end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle, said shell including a front wall having an inclined portion extending outwardly from one said open end of said shell to the other said open end thereof, said inclined portion and the portion of said second receptacle forming said passageway. 
     
     
       46. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other to provide communication between the interiors thereof, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a wall spaced from a wall of said shell to form a passageway therebetween, said wall of said shell including an inclined portion extending outwardly from said bottom end to said top end of said shell, said inclined portion and said wall of said second receptacle forming said passageway, said passageway providing communication between said opening in said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, and a lid moveably overlying said opening in said top end of said shell between an opened and closed position. 
     
     
       47. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other to provide communication between the interiors thereof, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a wall spaced from a wall of said shell to form a passageway therebetween, said passageway providing communication between said opening in said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, said opening in said top end of said shell being larger than said opening in said bottom end of said shell, the differences between said openings forming a portion of said passageway therebetween, and a lid moveably overlying said opening in said top end of said shell between an opened and closed position. 
     
     
       48. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other to provide communication between the interiors thereof, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a wall spaced from a wall of said shell to form a passageway therebetween, said passageway providing communication between said opening in said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, and a lid moveably overlying said opening in said top end of said shell between an opened and closed position, said shell including a rim surrounding a portion of said top end of said shell, said rim including preventing means for preventing movement of said lid in said opened position beyond a predetermined limit. 
     
     
       49. A container for segregating materials, said container comprising a shell having top and bottom ends each provided with an opening therein, a first receptacle having a top end provided with an opening therein and a closed bottom end, said top end of said first receptacle removably supporting said bottom end of said shell with said openings thereof in at least partial alignment with each other to provide communication between the interiors thereof, a second receptacle removably supported within said shell, said second receptacle having a wall spaced from a wall of said shell to form a passageway therebetween, a third receptacle removably supported within said shell adjacent said second receptacle, said wall of said shell forming said passageway extending outwardly from said bottom end to said top end of said shell, said walls of said second and third receptacles forming with said wall of said shell said passageway therebetween, said passageway providing communication between said opening in said top end of said shell and the interior of said first receptacle through the at least partially aligned openings within said bottom end of said shell and said top end of said first receptacle, and a lid moveably overlying said opening in said top end of said shell between an opened and closed position.